Joseph barbe fournier



(No Model.)

J. B. FOURNIER. APPARATUS FOR USING LIQUEFIED OR COMPRESSED GAS.

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JOSEPH BARBE FOURNIER, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

APPARATUS FOR USENG LBQUEIFIE OR COPRESSED GAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 604,659, dated May 24, 1898. Application filed October 22,1896. $erial No. 609,762 (No model.) Patented in France March 30, 1896, No. 255,138.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH BARBE FOUR- NIER, acitizen of France, and a resident of Paris, in the Department of the Seine, France, have inventedanew and useful Improvement in Apparatus for UsingLiquefied or Compressed Gas, (for which I have obtained Letters Patent in France, No. 255,138, dated March 30, 1896,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus designed for practically using liquefied or compressed gases-as, for instance, for illuminating purposes, inflating pneumatic tires, and the like.

The invention consists in the features of construction and in the combination or arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through the axis of an apparatus constructed according to my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 show, respectively, in vertical sections two modified constructions of the same apparatus more especially designed for use with velocipedes. Fig. 4 shows a detail of construction in plan, hereinafter described. Fig. 5 shows an apparatus according tom y invention in vertical section provided with a safety manometric tube. Fig. 6 is a plan of the upper end of the gas-reservoir of the said apparatus. Figs. 7 and 8 show the same safety device applied to a modified construction of my apparatus.

Figs. 9 and 10 show in plan view two modi fied constructions of the same safety device.

Apparatus constructed according to 1nyi11- vention and which is applicable for lighting generally in houses, and especially in carriages an d velocipedes, as well as for inflating pneumatic tires, consists of a receiver 1, made of steel or other suitablystrong material, Fig. 1, and terminates in a neck 2, screwthreaded from its base to its end. The opening of this neck 2 is narrowed at its lower end and provided with a shoulder 3, in which enters a bush or gland 4, fitting exactly in the lower part of the neck-recess 2. The lower part of this bush 4, whichis of the smallest diameter, is screw-threaded internally through a portion of its length and penetrates into the receiver 1 for any desired length. It is cylindro-conically shaped and extends to the bottom of the receiver 1 in a tube 5, which may be of any size. The upper part of this bush terminates in a conical chamber 6.

In the bush 4 engages a pointed plug 7, having a channel 8 formed in its axis, the lower end of which opens laterally at 9 into the lower part of the bush. This plug consists of four parts of different diameters: first, the lower part of the smallest diameter terminating at its lower end in a pointed plug 7 second, a part of larger diameter screwing into the corresponding part of the bush 4; third, a part of the same diameter or of a slightly-larger diameter than the preceding; fourth, an upper part of any desired diameter terminating in an opening 10, on which the tube for communicating with another apparatus can be screwed. This device constitutes a very strongcock,which is operated by means of a milled head 11 or a bar or handle or the like.

The proper tight fitting between the bush and the cock is secured, 011 the one hand, by a leather washer 12, placed between the shoulder 3 of the neck 2 of the receiver 1 and a corresponding shoulder of the bush 4, and,on the other hand, by two cylindro-conical rings 13 14, of lead or tow, surrounding the cock,with their bases opposite each otherand separated by a thin layer of lubricant, such as glycerin, oil, fat, or the like. The joint may also have a narrow channel 15 formed around the inside of the neck 2. Against the upper ring 14 is applied, against the conical chamber, another steel ring 16, held in position by the screwcap 17. By turning this screw-cap on the neck 2 of the receiver 1 this ring 16 is kept against the lead or tow forming the joint and by means of the rings 13 14 and of the bush 4 presses on the leather washer 12, thus securing the proper tight fitting of the bush and cook. In most cases the leather 12 and the circular channel 15, made on the neck 2, may be dispensed with, the other joint being sufficient to insure perfect tight fitting.

A small cook 18 is placed either on the side or on the upper end of the receiver 1 for filling the same and at the same time acting as a safety device for preventing rupture of the receiver in case of an overcharge. The bushing 19, in the interior of which the said cook screws, terminates beneath the conical part, into which the end of the cock takes in a small tube 20, on the end of which a vibrating or free reed 21 is mounted. This reed 21 enters the receiver for a certain distance. During filling, with the apparatus in a vertical position and the small cock 18 open, the said reed remains silent or sounds, according as the level of the liquid reaches it or not. If during the filling the level of the reed 21 is overpassed, it is only necessary to reopen the cock 7. The level of the liquid in the receiver 1 drops, and when it reaches 21 the reed again begins to sound. A safe charge for the apparatus is thus insured, and the cock 7 is then closed. The cock may be replaced by any other instrument capable of operating in a similar manner.

I have stated that the small cock 18, with its accompanying parts, may be placed either on the side or on the upper end of the re ceiver 1. When my apparatus is applied to velocipedes and in other cases where its use necessitates that it should be of a small size, I prefer to employ either of the arrangements shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

of the receiver 1, as already described in the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, it only enters a short distance therein, or I may shape the lower part of the neck 2 to the form-of the bush as in Fig. 3, and thendispensewith. the said bush altogether. The large cock 7 then extends to the base of the receiver 1 and closes an opening 30, which is used for filling it. The said cock 7 is hollowed out at its upper part along its axis to form an opening into which the small regulating cook 18 screws, this latter here fulfilling the same functions as those already described with reference to the pointed plug of Fig. 1 and 1 ready described.

also serving to regulate the flow of gas. A

stop fixed on the head of thelarge cock limits the amount through which the small one may be turned, so as to have the desired discharge of gaseous fluid always the same under the various applications shown. The audible signaling and safety device, consisting of the reed, bell, siren, or the like, may be fixed on the upper screwed end of the small cock. A small circular disk 31, mounted eccentrically on the base of the receiver 1, closes the opening 30 and protects it from the dust. In apparatus so reduced to a small size the small cook 18 takes the place of the regulator al- The stop device shown in I plan in Fig. 4 consists of a stop 32 for'limiting the rotation of the small cook 18, and a collar 33, surrounding that part of the body of the small cook 18 situated immediately above the upper end of the large cock 7 This collar carries the set-screw 34 for attaching -it to the body of the small cook 18 and a pointer 35. The upper side of the head 36 of the large cock 7 is marked with a scale corpointer 35 can be fixed once and for all at a In this construction instead of the bush 4 extending to the basegiven point for limiting the rotation of the small cock, and consequently for obtaining the desired discharge of the gaseous fluid, the pointer 35 abutting against the stop 32 and preventing the rotation of the small cock 18, which is thus arrested.

I have already stated that the reed 21, constituting the signaling and safety device, is given merely by way of example, and may be replaced by any other instrument producing the same result. It may be, for example, replaced by one of the following arrangements, (shown in Figs. 5 to 10:)

A tube 41, Figs. 5 and 6, bent round like a metal manometer-tube, whose curve and section are so arranged to give it a proper degree of sensitiveness, is fixed on one of the ends of the receiver 1 at one'of its ends 42, which is in communication with the interior thereof, the other end 43ofthe said tube 41 being closed and free. On the side of the receiver 1 and near this end 43 a lever 44 45, turning on its axis 46, is placed. The end 45 of the said lever carries an adjusting-screw 47, and

to the other end 44 a steel rod 48 is jointed, which passes through a small cylinder 49, screwing into the receiver 1. At the end of the rod in the receiver is a conical plug 50, forming a valve. A bent blade of steelor the like, forming a spring 51, keeps the plug 50 against the opening, which it thus closes. Any suitable arrangement of bent levers may also be employed in such a manner as to enable the valve 50 to be placed in any desired position on. the receiver 1. The screw- 47 serves foradjusting the distance between the upperarm 45 of the lever and the movable end 43 of the manometer-tube 41.

Figs. 7 and 8 show the same safety device applied to another shape of receiver 1. Insteadof causing the free end 43 of the manometric tube to act on a lever operating a valve the endmay be arranged, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, to operate a cock similar to the small cock 18, already described, and it may be placed in any desired position on the receiver. In this case the head 18' of the formed at the end of this rod one end of a connecting-rod 55, jointed at 56 to the end of tube 41, can slide freely between two stops 53 and 54.- The length of this rod can be adjusted by means of the set-screw 58. Fig. 10 shows, by way ofexample, this arrangement placed on the end of the receiver 1. Either of these arrangements may be employed in place of the small cook 18, already described.

With both arrangements dangers of explosion arising from various causes are avoided, since the spiral formed by the manometric tube 41 expands as the pressure increases in the receiver 1, and the end of the tube 41 opens, by means of the lever 44 45'or of the rod 55, the valve 50 or cock 18. The gas will then escape from the apparatus, the pressure drops, and the spiral 41 retracts at the same time as the cook 18, on which it acts by elasticity. In the first case, Figs. 5 and 6, the spring 51 closes the valve 50. In both cases the movements of the free end of the manometric tube 41 may be utilized for indicating the pressure at any time contained in the receiver 1. The arrangement of cocks may also be employed for regulatingthe feed of gaseous fluid.

I-Iaving described my invention, what I claim is In an apparatus for receiving and discharging liquefied gas, the combination of a closed vessel for containing the gas, a valved fillingtube having an automatic alarm at its inner end, a valved eduction-tube fitted gas-tight 

